Garden City: Doubleday & Co. 1976. First edition. SIGNED on front end paper. AUTHOR'S FIRST BOOK of short stories, published simultaneously with CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER, her first novel. Fine in dust jacket with one small tape repair at back of top of front panel and touch of lightly rubbed creasing at spine ends.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1938. First edition. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the half-title page to Eda Lou Walton, "For Eda Lou, with my inexpressible gratitude for the best pieces in the book and the death of the Ice-Age. Affectionately, Ben." The printed dedication to the last section of the book, "IV: Many Cradles: Personal Legend," is "For E. L. W." -- presumably Walton. New York Times book review slip laid in with Walton's name pencilled on the back, and Walton's signature is on the front endpaper. Paperclip impression to top of review slip and first few pages, with a touch of rust offset to front pastedown. Altogether very good or better with unavoidable offset from the binding glue to the hinges. Walton, then a New York University professor and poet herself, was mistress and muse to Henry Roth, author of CALL IT SLEEP, and that book's dedicatee.

No Place: Blue from the Death Edition, 1994. First edition. Number 3 of only 39 copies SIGNED BY AUTHOR AND ARTIST. Bell's short story about buskers in New York City illustrated with five woodcuts by de la Fontaine. Chinese-style cloth scroll, 18 x 32 inches, with text and illustrations in five panels followed by a colophon. Attached at ends to two wooden dowels and rolled and housed in wooden box with title burned into its sliding top. Scarce.

New York: Henry Holt and Co. 1921. First edition of the AUTHOR'S FIRST BOOK. INSCRIBED, DATED AND SIGNED by the author on the front endpaper. "For Billie Allen / in memory of many / happy hours on the / shore of Lake Como / Robert C. Benchley / Dec 20, 1921." Light soiling and cloth edges slightly rubbed, otherwise near fine. Lacking dust jacket.

Boston: Little, Brown and Co. (1961). First edition of his third book. INSCRIBED (3 times) "For Meg Balcom with warmest good wishes from Bill Steers and me author, Stephen Birmingham." Again on front endpaper, " '61 Nancy and Roger. Here I am again. Stephen Birmingham '89." And again on back endpaper, "For Meg Balcom With warmest good wishes from Hannah and Bill Steers, and from me. Stephen Birmingham '61." Fine in dust jacket with very minor wear on corners and spine ends. INSCRIBED THRICE.

(New York: Athens Printing Company), no-date. First edition. SIGNED with inscription in Greek on front endpaper. Text in Greek and five poems translated to English. Near fine in glossy, stapled paper wraps with light rubbing to spine ends and corners.

New York: St. Martin's Press, (1999). First edition. INSCRIBED, "For Christopher (Buckley), Great friend, fellow scribbler, occasional humongous pain in the ass. We need to write less & fish more. Love, Peter Bowen, May 1999." Lain in is a note from Bowen to Buckley starting with "BUCKLEY, YOU PR--K Thanks for the book - most revolting package ever, it'll sell like hot cakes ...." Fine in dust jacket. GREAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN FRIENDS?

New York: Simon & Schuster, 1946. Second printing. Inscribed to author/critic Doris Grumbach "June 1976, Doris, your own work first - Love, Kay". Very good with soiling on cloth cover and page edges in dust jacket with foxing, shallow chipping and soiling. Small section (the size of a dime) of offset on front cover.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin and Co. 1961. First edition. The author's only book. An advance copy INSCRIBED by Brammer, "For Wm. Beckman -- Friend of famous Arthurs / Pen Pay of Genius Poets / Patron of the Pataphysician. From his boon companion Wm. (B. L.) Brammer 3/21/63 (4 a. m.)." One of the best political novels we've read. Brammer worked for LBJ and became a heavy user of drugs which eventually led to his death. Set in an unnamed state identical to Texas, each novella has a different protagonist: a member of the state legislature; the state's junior senator; and the governor's speechwriter. The governor himself, Arthur Fenstemaker, a master politician (said to have been based on Brammer's mentor Lyndon Johnson) serves as the dominant figure throughout. The book also includes characters based on Ladybird, and LBJ's brother Sam Houston Johnson. The book, which earned the author a Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award. has been widely acclaimed as one of the best American political novels ever written. Yellow printed wraps a bit soiled and a bit worn on edges but still very good. INSCRIBED ADVANCE COPY.

Brandt, Willy.NORTH-SOUTH: A PROGRAM FOR SURVIVAL; A Report of the Independent Commission on International Development Issues under the Chairmanship of Brandt.

Cambridge (Mass.): M. I. T. Press, (1980). First U.S. edition. Paperback original. SIGNED BY BRANDT. Willy Brandt (1913 - 1992) was leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1969 to 1974. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971 for his efforts to strengthen cooperation in western Europe through the EEC and to achieve reconciliation between West Germany and the countries of Eastern Europe. Skinned section affecting "Technology" in Press address at bottom of rear cover, subtle yellowing to front cover, otherwise very good to near fine in paperwraps.

New York: Harper & Brothers, (1950). First edition. INSCRIBED at his Malabar Farm, "Malabar 1950 For Charlie Rogers with the friendship and best wishes of Louis Bromfield." Very good or better with pictorial endpapers showing faint offset and cloth with a little wear. In a supplied very fine dust jacket almost new with two small closed tears.

[New York]: E P Dutton & Co., Inc. 1940. First edition. One of 997 SIGNED, numbered copies issued in publisher's slipcase. Very good to fine with page top edges gilt and ribbon place marker. Slipcase shows some fading and wear on edges, but still intact and sturdy.

Broughton, James.THE PLAYGROUND, Together with THE QUEEN OF THE MERMAIDS WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE.

(San Francisco): Centaur Press, 1949. First edition. Limited to 1000 copies. Broughton's play illustrated by Daniel Harris in his first appearance as "Zev." The first book from the press founded by Broughton and Kermit Sheet. SIGNED BY BROUGHTON on half-title page and INSCRIBED WITH A LARGE DRAWING BY ZEV on front endpaper, "For Herbert and Zelda & Co. With Love! Love! Love! Love! Love!" The drawing depicts a father returning home to his wife and two children with what appears to be an airplane in his hands. Paperclip impression and touch of rust to front flap and opposing endpaper, otherwise near fine in a good or better dust jacket. Laid in is a 1954 CHRISTMAS GREETING WITH POEM by Broughton and drawing by Zev (of mermaid queen arriving at a castle or cathedral) which, according to OCLC was produced for the use of Broughton, Sheets, and Dan "Zev" Harris and his wife Gertrude. Only 3 copies are located in libraries worldwide. This one INSCRIBED IN FRENCH BY ZEV "with best wishes," and signed by him with his wife's name followed by "Zev," over which he adds a jeweled crown. A 12 x 7.75" broadside, folded to make a card. Minor creasing and one small stain, otherwise near fine.

New York: Random House, (1940). First edition. A biography of actress Helen Hayes, written by her mother in a series of letters to Helen's daughter, Mary. Number 37 of 350 numbered copies SIGNED by Catherine Hayes Brown, Helen Hayes and Mary MacArthur. Includes a foreword by Charles MacArthur. Near fine with a touch of age darkening on the endpapers. In slipcase with a few small rubbed spots.